Hitting 30 weeks is a major mental pregnancy milestone. You realize that he will be here soon and there is only a countdown left of 10 weeks! The realization really hit us this week when we were at Home Depot and realized we had less than 70 days to get ready for our little buddy. This realization changed a few of our home renovation plans for his room and moved us into fast forward. One minute we were planning on installing recess lighting into the nursery and the next minute we were purchasing a nice new light fixture instead. Realizing we did not have time to do a bigger project at this point, Ed installed the light fixture that day and I love it. The recess lighting can come later but Buckner is definitely on schedule to come on time so we have to get his nursery ready!
Size of Baby:
According to the The Bump, our sweet little twisting and turning baby boy is the size of a cucumber (which seems small to me but maybe they are talking about a genetically engineered gigantic cucumber!). He is suppose to be anywhere up to 16.7 inches long and up to 3.8 pounds. And The Bump says he is strong enough to grasp a finger!
Movement: All the time and I love it. I love it when he kicks Ed. We hugged last night and Buckner kicked Ed in the stomach. These are all very sweet, exciting moments that get me through the not so fun times like....
What I Miss the Most: Not being nauseated and huge! The other night as I was getting ready for bed, I had a slight (no tears) mini breakdown. The vastness of my body has just become overwhelming! All you mamas to be out there around 20 something weeks...you think you are huge right now but just wait! And the size has nothing to do with vanity, it has everything to do with exhaustion of moving with 30 extra pounds!
Cravings:
Fruit! Tons of fruit. The other day I almost bought out the fruit section at Kroger's. I purchased: bananas, blueberries, watermelon, honey dew, fresh pineapple, canned pineapple, frozen peaches and frozen mango. Ed wondered what else we were going to eat for the week when I basically brought home a fruit basket for our week of groceries.
Symptoms: Nausea and swelling of the ankles. The swelling is better when I exercise a lot.
Best Moment of the Week: Sitting in my 10 foot blow up pool my sweet husband fixed for me while I drank a peach smoothie. Also, exercising..it really does make me feel better!
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Thursday Third Trimester Countdown
I will be 30 weeks pregnant on Sunday. Today, according to The Bump, I have 73 days until my expected due date of August 3rd. Neither number sounds like too much time left until we meet our little buddy and the countdown excites me as well as provokes some anxiety over everything we need to get done! Between moving and busy work schedules, the nursery is a bare room with shower gifts on the floor. Time to put it together! I get stressed thinking about all we need to do but then I remind myself take it one step a time.
Since we are nearing a 10 week countdown, I decided I would like to document the remaining trimester every Thursday with Thursdays Third Trimester Countdown. To mark a lot of the moments, I loved the format another blogger and friend (Georgia on My Mind) used to describe her pregnancy.
Size of Baby: According to the The Bump, our little fellow is the size of an acorn squash weighing any where from 2.5 to 3.8 pounds and measuring somewhere around 16 inches...no wonder my stomach is sticking out so far on my 5'2" frame! I did not have a sonogram yesterday at my doctor's appointment but I start my every two weeks appointments now so hopefully the next one will involve a scan so I can know more about my little punkin's size!
Movement: All the time....unless I tell someone else to feel for him then he stubbornly stops. Thankfully, my husband feels him a lot and it is so sweet to see the amazement in his eyes when he feels him turn or kick. My mother has also had the opportunity to feel her grandson move. He is definitely on the move and I love the twists, turns and kicks which are not painful to me (yet) but a comforting reminder that he is doing well.
What I Miss the Most: Not being nauseated! I was very nauseated during the first trimester but thankfully it subsided for the most part during the second trimester. Now as I start the third, it seems to be reappearing again. The sick feeling isn't as bad as the first trimester and I pray it will not get any worse! I also miss some of my favorites like a good cup of coffee in the morning. I know I can have a cup but the smell and taste of coffee top my aversions list. And of course, I miss my wine! Ha!
Cravings: My cravings vary from day to day based on what sounds like it will help the nausea go away. The cravings that seem to be a mainstay and never really nauseate me are fruits and carbs but nothing too wierd. I never really ate carbs or sugar before I got pregnant. I maintained a strict, healthy diet of no gluten and limited sugar but both seem to be what I crave the most these days! The craving made Ed predict early that I was having a boy because I wasn't eating just rabbit food anymore!
Symptoms: Nausea and swelling of the ankles at the end of most days but that seems to have gone away in the last few days.
Best Moment of the Week: I told Buckner I loved him yesterday and he promptly responded with a kick. I told him I loved him again and he kicked again! He loves his mommy!
Since we are nearing a 10 week countdown, I decided I would like to document the remaining trimester every Thursday with Thursdays Third Trimester Countdown. To mark a lot of the moments, I loved the format another blogger and friend (Georgia on My Mind) used to describe her pregnancy.
Size of Baby: According to the The Bump, our little fellow is the size of an acorn squash weighing any where from 2.5 to 3.8 pounds and measuring somewhere around 16 inches...no wonder my stomach is sticking out so far on my 5'2" frame! I did not have a sonogram yesterday at my doctor's appointment but I start my every two weeks appointments now so hopefully the next one will involve a scan so I can know more about my little punkin's size!
Movement: All the time....unless I tell someone else to feel for him then he stubbornly stops. Thankfully, my husband feels him a lot and it is so sweet to see the amazement in his eyes when he feels him turn or kick. My mother has also had the opportunity to feel her grandson move. He is definitely on the move and I love the twists, turns and kicks which are not painful to me (yet) but a comforting reminder that he is doing well.
What I Miss the Most: Not being nauseated! I was very nauseated during the first trimester but thankfully it subsided for the most part during the second trimester. Now as I start the third, it seems to be reappearing again. The sick feeling isn't as bad as the first trimester and I pray it will not get any worse! I also miss some of my favorites like a good cup of coffee in the morning. I know I can have a cup but the smell and taste of coffee top my aversions list. And of course, I miss my wine! Ha!
Cravings: My cravings vary from day to day based on what sounds like it will help the nausea go away. The cravings that seem to be a mainstay and never really nauseate me are fruits and carbs but nothing too wierd. I never really ate carbs or sugar before I got pregnant. I maintained a strict, healthy diet of no gluten and limited sugar but both seem to be what I crave the most these days! The craving made Ed predict early that I was having a boy because I wasn't eating just rabbit food anymore!
Symptoms: Nausea and swelling of the ankles at the end of most days but that seems to have gone away in the last few days.
Best Moment of the Week: I told Buckner I loved him yesterday and he promptly responded with a kick. I told him I loved him again and he kicked again! He loves his mommy!
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
The Rudest Thing
I made it seven months without a rude comment from a stranger. In fact, strangers inquiring about my pregnancy have been so kind and leave me feeling better. But this week I received several rude comments in a row from a Walgreens cashier checking me out. I think she started off to mean well but this girl had absolutely no tact whatsoever. Her lack of tact combined with my new found bluntness that I suppose comes with impending motherhood was an interesting conversation.
Cashier, smiling: How many months are you?
Me, smiling: Seven months
The next comment shocked me so that it took a moment to absorb what she said because I was use to a friendly compliment after such a question.
Cashier: REALLY? I thought you were much further along than that! I would have guessed nine months.
Me, not smiling, after absorbing what she just said: Wow, that is not what you say to a pregnant woman.
Cashier: I mean, I was just much smaller than you when I was seven months.
At this point, I am reeling! Really? This girl does not know when to stop.
Me: Well, we all gain weight differently.
And I am thinking you are five inches taller than me and weigh more than I do now when you are not pregnant but I graciously kept my thoughts to myself.
Cashier: I was going to say are you pregnant with twins.
Me, temper flaring: You are on a roll today of everything you are NOT suppose to say to a pregnant woman.
Cashier starts to look a little nervous as I wonder if I should have her call her manager up to the front for her lack of good customer service.
Cashier: I know it is hard. I am still trying to lose the weight I did gain with my baby.
Me: How much weight did you gain?
Cashier: Too much.
Me, pressing: How much?
Cashier: Well, I started at 155 and finish over 200.
Me, triumphantly: Yeah, I have not gained that much and what I have gained just looks like that much because I am short.
And with that final statement I turned and walked out as I tried to decide if I should cry or be furious. Immediately I call my mom as I sit in the parking lot of of Walgreens fighting back tears but in the conversation with her I decided to be furious.
She had no right to comment on my weight. If I was just fat, she would not had said a word so why does being pregnant automatically give everyone a license to discuss your body? Besides, she had no idea how I am doing great in the weight department...if I really gave in to what I wanted I would have also purchased a gallon of ice cream and a package of chocolate chip cookies! But all I bought was conditioner and lotion so lay off lady!
Cashier, smiling: How many months are you?
Me, smiling: Seven months
The next comment shocked me so that it took a moment to absorb what she said because I was use to a friendly compliment after such a question.
Cashier: REALLY? I thought you were much further along than that! I would have guessed nine months.
Me, not smiling, after absorbing what she just said: Wow, that is not what you say to a pregnant woman.
Cashier: I mean, I was just much smaller than you when I was seven months.
At this point, I am reeling! Really? This girl does not know when to stop.
Me: Well, we all gain weight differently.
And I am thinking you are five inches taller than me and weigh more than I do now when you are not pregnant but I graciously kept my thoughts to myself.
Cashier: I was going to say are you pregnant with twins.
Me, temper flaring: You are on a roll today of everything you are NOT suppose to say to a pregnant woman.
Cashier starts to look a little nervous as I wonder if I should have her call her manager up to the front for her lack of good customer service.
Cashier: I know it is hard. I am still trying to lose the weight I did gain with my baby.
Me: How much weight did you gain?
Cashier: Too much.
Me, pressing: How much?
Cashier: Well, I started at 155 and finish over 200.
Me, triumphantly: Yeah, I have not gained that much and what I have gained just looks like that much because I am short.
And with that final statement I turned and walked out as I tried to decide if I should cry or be furious. Immediately I call my mom as I sit in the parking lot of of Walgreens fighting back tears but in the conversation with her I decided to be furious.
She had no right to comment on my weight. If I was just fat, she would not had said a word so why does being pregnant automatically give everyone a license to discuss your body? Besides, she had no idea how I am doing great in the weight department...if I really gave in to what I wanted I would have also purchased a gallon of ice cream and a package of chocolate chip cookies! But all I bought was conditioner and lotion so lay off lady!
Friday, May 16, 2014
Pregnancy Fears
Last night was the first night that I awoke with a slight panic. I will say slight because when it comes to panicking I am very good at it and can take the panic level up pretty high. I woke up for the first time with a fear about labor and delivery. I have had a peace about the "exit" strategy for Buckner the entire pregnancy but then again the delivery was months away...until now. Now is the exciting time of the third trimester. I am almost there. I am so ready and so not ready at the same time.
For the first time, I feared the pain and uncertainty about delivery. I prayed for God's peace and thankfully fell asleep having the best sleep all night so I guess my prayer worked. Today, I am not so afraid. I know the fear is normal especially as the time draws near. And really there is no way out of this but through the labor and delivery part so I might as well be calm about it.
While I have not had fears about labor and delivery, I have had one, nagging and silly fear for my pregnancy. I actually developed this fear before my pregnancy after reading part of a book about a woman who died from a blood clot after having a baby. I say I read part of the book because it was so sad that I never could finish it. I try to not compare myself to this woman who had a lot of complications and was on bedrest for a few months before delivery. We have never had a history of blood clots in my family nor have I had any issue but nonetheless my hypochondriac brain thought because I read it then it is possible. So that has been my fear. It has not been crippling. In fact, it has probably been a positive thing more likely than a negative thing. The fear has pushed me to take care of myself more. I try to make healthier nutrition choices (most of the time), drink a lot of water (my second home is now the bathroom), keep my feet elevated, watch my weight (as much as possible), and walk walk walk!
All in all, throughout my pregnancy my extreme hypochondria has disappeared. It has been nice not to visit WebMD all the time! And I know my fear of blood clots is really not warranted but at least it has made me healthy!
What were some of your fears during pregnancy?
For the first time, I feared the pain and uncertainty about delivery. I prayed for God's peace and thankfully fell asleep having the best sleep all night so I guess my prayer worked. Today, I am not so afraid. I know the fear is normal especially as the time draws near. And really there is no way out of this but through the labor and delivery part so I might as well be calm about it.
While I have not had fears about labor and delivery, I have had one, nagging and silly fear for my pregnancy. I actually developed this fear before my pregnancy after reading part of a book about a woman who died from a blood clot after having a baby. I say I read part of the book because it was so sad that I never could finish it. I try to not compare myself to this woman who had a lot of complications and was on bedrest for a few months before delivery. We have never had a history of blood clots in my family nor have I had any issue but nonetheless my hypochondriac brain thought because I read it then it is possible. So that has been my fear. It has not been crippling. In fact, it has probably been a positive thing more likely than a negative thing. The fear has pushed me to take care of myself more. I try to make healthier nutrition choices (most of the time), drink a lot of water (my second home is now the bathroom), keep my feet elevated, watch my weight (as much as possible), and walk walk walk!
All in all, throughout my pregnancy my extreme hypochondria has disappeared. It has been nice not to visit WebMD all the time! And I know my fear of blood clots is really not warranted but at least it has made me healthy!
What were some of your fears during pregnancy?
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
My Favorite Things About Being Pregnant
Between 5:05 and 5:15 this morning, as I hit snooze and savored the last few moments of sweet sleep, I thought about this blog post. In my half awake but still know I am asleep state, I thought about the things I love about being pregnant. The first thing I thought about was how I will write a blog about how much I love sleep. Obviously I love sleep when I am not pregnant but in my sleep induced state, I thought that sleep would be a brilliant topic for a blog post. The things that make sense to us while we dream!
Of course, when I woke up I thought more about my blog idea and realized that I do have several things I love about being pregnant which will come to a relief to my husband since I have had my share of complaints on why being pregnant is so hard. I do have a few moments where pregnancy is pretty cool although I am much more excited about the mom part and not the current issues I have lugging around 30 extra pounds. Here are the parts that I find to be enjoyable:
Sleep
Obviously sleep had to make the top pregnancy joy lists. I love to sleep more than ever now. I have no choice in the matter really because I fall asleep around 8:30 on a late night. I am usually on the couch trying to convince my husband that I am indeed awake as I try to laugh when he laughs at a show only to realize later that I think I laughed about a minute later than I was suppose to. Sleep is a joy. I am very fortunate that I am one of the pregnant women that can sleep in her third trimester. I only have to wake up usually once or twice a night to make the ritual pregnant woman bathroom run but I have no issue falling back asleep. I am going to enjoy this sleep as long as I can because soon there will be little when Baby Buckner arrives.
Kind People
Now that I am truly showing without absolutely no doubt that I am pregnant and not just swollen or chunky, people are so kind. They go out of there way to hold the door open for me, pick up items that I clumsily drop (pregnancy = more clumsiness for me), and ask me excitedly about the due date. They are kind and tell me how good I look. They are kind and tell me about their baby stories or their friends' or family's baby stories. People genuinely seem excited to talk to a pregnant woman and it is so sweet the attention that they give to me.
Baby Kicks
Baby Buckner is getting stronger and bigger so what use to feel like little flutters now are true movements. I can feel him twist and turn. I can truly feel him, our baby, inside me. It is an amazing feeling and completely surreal. I love to see him turn or kick so hard that my belly jumps. So far none of the kicks have hurt so I enjoy the movement.
Mommy-to-be Massages
My husband treated me to a gift certificate for a mommy-to-be massage for Mother's Day. I am going to use it in the next couple of weeks. I am so excited. I have now had two prenatal massages and I love them. However, I loved massages before I became pregnant but now I feel they are a necessity. Many of my mama friends told me to make sure to indulge in the prenatal massages which I have tried to do. I think I will squeeze at least two more in before Baby Buckner arrives. On the same note, it is so important to pamper yourself while you are pregnant. I indulge in pedicures, hair appointments and massages whenever I can. Give yourself some treats because after all you are making a human being which is a lot of work! Even daily rituals like my "wine" I have (cranberry juice in a wine glass with ice) each evening makes me feel pampered and relaxed. Indulge - you deserve it!
Not Holding My Stomach In
No need to feel skinny or suck the stomach in. I tried once, you can't. So why bother? Even the simple joys count on this 40 week journey to parenthood!
Of course, when I woke up I thought more about my blog idea and realized that I do have several things I love about being pregnant which will come to a relief to my husband since I have had my share of complaints on why being pregnant is so hard. I do have a few moments where pregnancy is pretty cool although I am much more excited about the mom part and not the current issues I have lugging around 30 extra pounds. Here are the parts that I find to be enjoyable:
Sleep
Obviously sleep had to make the top pregnancy joy lists. I love to sleep more than ever now. I have no choice in the matter really because I fall asleep around 8:30 on a late night. I am usually on the couch trying to convince my husband that I am indeed awake as I try to laugh when he laughs at a show only to realize later that I think I laughed about a minute later than I was suppose to. Sleep is a joy. I am very fortunate that I am one of the pregnant women that can sleep in her third trimester. I only have to wake up usually once or twice a night to make the ritual pregnant woman bathroom run but I have no issue falling back asleep. I am going to enjoy this sleep as long as I can because soon there will be little when Baby Buckner arrives.
Kind People
Now that I am truly showing without absolutely no doubt that I am pregnant and not just swollen or chunky, people are so kind. They go out of there way to hold the door open for me, pick up items that I clumsily drop (pregnancy = more clumsiness for me), and ask me excitedly about the due date. They are kind and tell me how good I look. They are kind and tell me about their baby stories or their friends' or family's baby stories. People genuinely seem excited to talk to a pregnant woman and it is so sweet the attention that they give to me.
Baby Kicks
Baby Buckner is getting stronger and bigger so what use to feel like little flutters now are true movements. I can feel him twist and turn. I can truly feel him, our baby, inside me. It is an amazing feeling and completely surreal. I love to see him turn or kick so hard that my belly jumps. So far none of the kicks have hurt so I enjoy the movement.
Mommy-to-be Massages
My husband treated me to a gift certificate for a mommy-to-be massage for Mother's Day. I am going to use it in the next couple of weeks. I am so excited. I have now had two prenatal massages and I love them. However, I loved massages before I became pregnant but now I feel they are a necessity. Many of my mama friends told me to make sure to indulge in the prenatal massages which I have tried to do. I think I will squeeze at least two more in before Baby Buckner arrives. On the same note, it is so important to pamper yourself while you are pregnant. I indulge in pedicures, hair appointments and massages whenever I can. Give yourself some treats because after all you are making a human being which is a lot of work! Even daily rituals like my "wine" I have (cranberry juice in a wine glass with ice) each evening makes me feel pampered and relaxed. Indulge - you deserve it!
Not Holding My Stomach In
No need to feel skinny or suck the stomach in. I tried once, you can't. So why bother? Even the simple joys count on this 40 week journey to parenthood!
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